SOUTH

South Chrysanthemum is an annual plant with a powerful, strongly branched stem, reaching a height of up to one meter. The leaves of this plant are dark green, repeatedly pinnatisect, and the inflorescences are single heads with a yellow center and white or yellow-white ray florets, resembling a daisy. The flowering period lasts from late August to early November, making the South Chrysanthemum a wonderful decoration for a garden or home windowsill during the autumn season.

This plant is not only decorative but also has culinary and medicinal value. Young leaves and shoots have a piquant taste reminiscent of celery and are used in food both raw and cooked. Inflorescences and buds are used in salads, stewed, boiled, baked, salted, marinated, as well as dried and frozen for later use. Before use, old leaves and the center of the flower are recommended to be soaked in vinegar with sugar to reduce bitterness and improve the taste.

In addition, fresh and dried South Chrysanthemum flowers are used to make tea, which has a delicate aroma, beautiful yellow color, and unique healing properties. This makes the plant versatile and useful both for interior decoration and culinary and health purposes, which is especially valued among gardeners and fans of natural products.